Edited version of article originally published online at ColoradoBiz Magazine.
Not too long ago, the internet isolated people; driving users into their basements to instant message faceless strangers they would never meet. With the growing popularity of email and online shopping, the internet became a tool for getting things done without ever having to leave your house and venture into the real world. But today, the web, or more specifically, “web 2.0” tools are connecting people, and actually helping them meet face-to-face.

There are many places on the internet where web 2.0 tools are working to unite people with common interests, and bringing people together in spontaneous gatherings and networking events. Two of our favorite examples are meetups and tweetups.

The derivation of “meetups” comes from the website www.Meetup.com. Meetup.com is an interactive site, which provides an inexpensive infrastructure for anybody who wants to start their own club or “meetup” group. The Meetup.com software handles invitations, RSVPs, PayPal payments, calendaring and email blasts via a simple web interface. The variety of meetup groups is astounding; ranging from internet oriented topics like the Front Range Blogger Meetup, to topics like gardening, homeschooling or working at home.

Contrasting with meetups are tweetups, which are typically informal, impromptu meetings, organized using the free internet service Twitter.com. Hosting a tweetup is simple. All you need to do is suggest a date, location, and time on Twitter. Your followers chime in if they want to join you, and you have an instant gathering!

You’re probably wondering what all of these random groups and informal gatherings have to do with your business. It’s simple, meetups and tweetups are networking events, and good networking is essential for business growth. Meetups and tweetups can be used to:

• Recruit employees or collaborators,
• Meet with existing or potential customers,
• Connect you with people in your local community who are passionate about your industry.

Customers no longer want or expect to deal with nameless, faceless companies; they want to deal with real people. They want to be connected. To see an example of how companies are leveraging this trend, you just have to look at Tony Hsieh, the founder and CEO of www.Zappos.com, a billion dollar online retailer of shoes, apparel and electronics. Zappos has over 1600 employees, and more than 250 of them are currently twittering. On Twitter, Zappos’ employees, including Tony Hseih himself, interact with their customers. They chat and have contests, including one to win a trip to visit Zappos and hang out with Tony himself. They even use Twitter to invite people to connect with them in person at social gatherings.

If you’re looking for more organized gatherings or specific interest groups, there are a number of ways you can use meetups to your business advantage. If you’re trying to bring a new product or business to market, or you want to find out what your customers want, a meetup can provide instant answers. For example, at a Front Range Blogger Meetup this summer, we found people from two local companies, Intense Debate and Room 214, looking for feedback on their products as well as the wants and needs of active bloggers.

Meetups can also help you with more general business concerns, by connecting you with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners to discuss things like marketing, business development or financing. You can also learn new skills through meetup groups, like how to build a website, publish a book or bring an invention to market. Even if you don’t end up doing these things on your own, the relationships you develop and the things you learn at your meetup can still bring you tremendous benefits if you utilize them effectively.

It’s time to stop hiding behind your internet persona, expand your network and connect with your customers. Get out there and meetup or tweetup now!

Connect with Kristie and Rob on Twitter - Follow @KristieMcNealy and @RobMcNealy!

Image Credit: Twitter Bird from iPotion